Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-02-10
1t is not likely that such a grass can

~ 10 hot ilhciy tudt SUCH pTaSS can
be found. Alfalfa, or lucerne, to be
profitable. should occupy all the soil
on VIII CHI it is grown. The presence
of weeds or any kind of grass or ordi-
nary clover will interfere with the
growth of alfalfa as much as they
would with that of corn or any root
crop. The plant is only highly pro-
ductive when it is raised on well-pre-
pared land. that is somewhat light in
its character, and which Is kept free
from all other kinds of vegetation.
1t does best when sOwn in drills,
though fair crops ara raised when the
seed is sown broadcast on soil finely
and deeply pulverized and free from
weeds. grasses, or their seed. The
plants raised in drills should be cult
waited during the first season of their
growth.
1t is not likely that alfalfa will ever
prove profitable forage crop in any
portion of Visions n, though it may
be found profitable when some of the
sandy land becomes valuable owing to
large increase OF population. There
are hardly any conditions in Wiscon-
sin that are favorable to the growth OF
this plant. The growing season is
short and the winters are severe. The
roots of the plant might not be killed
by the frost, as they would be protected
by snow, but the foliage would be kill
ed by the first slight frost in the fall,
and leaves would not appear Il quite
late the following spring. Alfalfa is a
very valuable plant in countries where
the growing season is long. In por-
tons of southern Europe, northern At
rica, and South America the stalks do
not de down at any season of the year,
and may be cut and used for feeding
stock every few weeks. Some highly
MANFRED land that is irrigated will
cause alfalfa to grow so fast that two
crops can be cut in single month.
1t is not likely, however, that more
than two crops could be secured in
Wisconsin,, and these can be obtained
from common red clover and orchard
grass.
Ii is not likely that alfalfa will ever
come in competition with the ordinary
grasses and clOvers in parts of the
world where the latter do well. 1t was
introduced into New York about CEN
fury ago, and every few years since
that time someone has sown small
patch and given an account of his sue
cess. Still it is not likely that there
were over hundred acres of alfalfa
growing in the Empire state during any
year since il was introduced. In fact,
the amount OF land seeded to alfalfa in
any part of the country this side of the
Missouri river is very small. 1t prob
ably would do well in all the states bor-
dering on the Gulf of Mexico. but though
attention has been called to its merits,
and success has been reported by those
who have experimental with it. still it
is little more than n botanical novelty
in all the cotton and cane producing
states. II "high farming" which in
clud g the cultivation of forage crops
and the soiling of farming animals. is
ever practiced in the southern states as
it is in some European countries, it is
likely that alfalfa will receive much at
tention. AT present however, very
few southern farmers raise it. though
the soil and climate are favorable
TO il and favorable to most of the
forage crops raised in the north.
Alfalfa is like the sunflower and Je-
rusalem artchoke in one respect. A
great many people write about it and
recommend il for general cultivation,
but hardly anyone ever raises it. 1t is
singularly adapted to portions of the
country having long seasons, a warm
climate, deep and light soils. and a
small or uncertain ra nfall. In these
places red clover and most of the grasses
common to places having moist and
cool climate do not succeed, alfalfa or
some similar plant is essential to sue
cess in stock-raising. That alfalfa will
produce more stock food than any for
age plant that is generally cultivated
seems certain. Ii costs considerable,
however. to prepare the ground for the
crop, to obtain seed, to raise the plants
till they are of IA size to cut for fodder,
and to conduct the operation of having
several times in the course of the seas
on. For these reasons farmers will
be likely to pay little attention to alfalfa
if they live where they can raise the
ordinary grasses and clover. Alfalfa
hay does not rank very high. and the
plant is injured if farm animals tread
upon it, as they would do in pasture.
Chicago Times.